The president made the remarks during a visit of Jih --ing (Sun Star) Character Casting Co., that has been undertaking a project of reviving the traditional printing practice of using Chinese character typefaces cast with lead.

He told a group of volunteers participating in the project that Taiwan has played a vital role in preserving traditional Chinese culture and script.

The history will record the contributions made by people in Taiwan during the past six decades, he said.

He also expressed the hope that the call for recovering the use of traditional Chinese characters by an increasing number of people in mainland China will enable more people there to learn more about their own history and culture.

The volunteers in the creative literary campaign are also planning to set up a museum to house and display the Chinese printing devices like movable types developed centuries ago.

President Ma has instructed the Cabinet-level Council for Cultural Affairs to gain an understanding of the volunteers' projects and provide any necessary assistance.